Separating Military Personnel

Stories of Innovation

WE'RE ENGINEERING A BETTER TOMORROW

The world is facing complex challenges that call for innovative solutions - solutions that help defend global security, push the boundaries of scientific discovery and deliver essential services to citizens around the globe.

On July 18, the Navy christened its newest littoral combat ship (LCS), the future USS Little Rock. In 2016, it will join four other Freedom-class variants in patrolling the world’s shorelines and open seas. On each of these ships, onboard automation is essential to keeping machines healthy and crews happy. Read on for three technologies that engineers are applying to the LCS design to simplify life at sea.

There’s no doubt a fighter jet is a modern marvel of aerospace engineering, but it may come as a surprise that the F-35 also houses enough computer programs to make any software engineer drool. Each jet will have more than 8 million lines of code—more than any other U.S. or allied jet in history.

New Horizons is revealing to the world the very best images of Pluto we have ever seen and will complete the initial exploration of the ninth body in the classical solar system. And as it has since launch day, the power system Lockheed Martin worked on will continue to power the probe for this historic flyby, as well as whatever may come next.

Lasers are a hallmark of iconic comic series and science fiction novels. While their capabilities and uses vary, in most cases, lasers are highly accurate, work instantaneously and cause minimal collateral damage. But does any of the technology behind these futuristic laser-based systems have a parallel in real-life laser technology? Actually, more than you might think.

Satellites enabled smart phones, cable television, ATMs, GPS navigation, climate monitoring and more. Emerging technology is bringing into view the Internet of Things – an increasing number of objects with a digital footprint and integrated into a broader network. As this bold, new world arises, a modernized version of a highly successful Lockheed Martin satellite stands poised to usher in the new era.

As more and more objects are launched into space, our ability to precisely plan missions and detect, track and catalog millions of pieces of space debris will become increasingly important.To cope with the congestion, researchers are drawing up precise calculations to determine ideal launch windows, controlling flight paths for spacecraft already in orbit, and developing advanced systems to track and classify hundreds of thousands of pieces of space debris.

Lockheed Martin is known for developing the most advanced aircraft in the world. Each aircraft’s strengths and abilities are derived from strategic research and development—whether it is the air superiority of an advanced tactical fighter or the physical endurance of a strategic airlifter. So, which Lockheed Martin aircraft are you most like? Take this quiz to find out.

Mars exploration missions are critical for greater understanding about the red planet and what it may take for humans to survive there. InSight will be the first to record measurements of Mars’ interior and provide the greatest clues yet into evolutionary processes that shaped the rocky planets of the inner solar system.

Currently, six F-35Bs are on the USS Wasp conducting Operational Test-1 (OT-1)—a precursor to the Marine Corps’ declaration of F-35 Initial Operating Capability (IOC). We sat down with Art “Turbo” Tomassetti, F-35B U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) program manager, to ask a few questions about the USMC’s OT-1 and the future of Marine aviation with the F-35B.

Scientists and engineers believe robotics could be the key to solving many of our most difficult problems, from deep space and deep sea exploration, to delicate surgery and mitigating natural disasters. Researchers at Lockheed Martin believe there are four driving factors that will push us toward the next great leap in robotics.

Today, virtual training systems are so advanced that more than 70 percent of F-35 pilot training is completed in a simulated environment before the pilot climbs into a cockpit. Compare that to F-16 training where pilots fly 40 percent of their qualification events in simulators.

Someday, thanks to creative scientists and engineers, our world may contain autonomous or semi-autonomous robots working with people, helping us do tasks that are better suited for machines. What technology will it take to get us there? Engineers believe it comes down to mastery of the four Ps: Perception, Processing, Power and Planning.